Pompy Must Apply For FA Cup Money

Sportspeak understands Portsmouth will have to make a special representation to the Football Association in order to be paid their FA Cup money, Pompey have earned £607,500 in winnings and broadcast fees after beating Birmingham to reach the semi-finals.

Any club in administration, as Portsmouth are, have to seek approval from the FA to keep Cup winnings. Their case will now be reviewed by the FA, to see if the club has met all its obligations to competitive clubs. Pompey will need to write to the FA and make a representation to the Professional Game Board, who will assess the case on the basis of any obligations Portsmouth have to fulfil.

The FA Cup is one of the few areas of success for Portsmouth this season and the crisis club face either Tottenham or Fulham in the semi-finals. Pompey are currently fighting a battle in the High Court over their right to go into voluntary administration.

The team appointed Andrew Andronikou as their administrator on 26 February to see if he could salvage the club’s finances by cutting costs. The move came ahead of an expected winding up order from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.

HMRC have since challenged the move into voluntary administration and questioned the validity of Andronikou’s appointment.  It was claimed that Andronikou may have links with Portsmouth owner Balram Chainrai, compromising his independence. The case is due to reconvene on 15 March after it was adjourned on 2 March.

As a result of going into administration, the club also face a nine-point penalty from the Premier League that will almost certainly see Pompey relegated to the Championship.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.